Planning Impactful Lessons | Origin: ED125
This is a general discussion forum for the following learning topic:
Effective and Efficient Instructional Strategies --> Planning Impactful Lessons
Post what you've learned about this topic and how you intend to apply it. Feel free to post questions and comments too.
Planning impactful lessons means being intentional with objectives, activities, and assessments so time is used effectively and learning actually happens. Clear goals, active learning, differentiation, and regular checks for understanding help keep students engaged and reduce the need for re-teaching. The goal is purposeful, student-centered instruction, not just covering content.
This course confirmed that how I start the class is so important. Also learnt and confirmed that constant engagement by asking questions relating what they learnt and will learn is more productive then plain lecture style. To summarize what I learnt is ,keep it student centered not Instructor centered.
This module helped me solidify my planning regarding keeping classes engaging from start to finish. Planning more activities that apply to the topics at hand, keeping segments between 20-25 minutes, and driving home how the information being covered will benefit their goals are all great ways to keep the class flowing!
planning effective lessons help students stay engaged and keeps them on task.
The first five to ten minutes of each class set the tone for the day. Students need to see the value of participating. Effective teachers start learning experience with subject-based activities that allow students to have fun, be creative and interact with each other.
A motivating classroom develops when the teacher and students create energy and enthusiasm together. Motivational learning is a partnership that develops when both the teacher and the learners have enthusiasm for the subject matter.
I learned from this reading that each learning activity for face to face classroom activities should be 20 to 25 minutes.
Being flexible helps students stay engaged in the course material
Share your objectives and expectations early on in the course and make sure your speech contains empathy.
Keeping students engaged in the work so they can gain the most from the training evolution
I loved the concept of "starting with the end in mind". I feel that I will enjoy creating a environment that fosters learning but also engages the minds of my students. From group activities/discussions or end of lesson wrap ups, I hope to make their class time more than just someone "teaching at them". I want them to feel involved in their education.
Have a flexible plan that can be adapted to the energy level of the class.
Provide an environment where mutual trust and respect are the drivers of success.
Planning Impactful lessons requires empathy, energy and enthusiasm. It is important to do a check in at the beginning on the emotional state of the learner and if they are able to grasp all the contents. The teacher should be able to adjust the content to meet the learning needs.
I learned that creating impactful lessons requires careful planning that balances content, engagement, and real-world application. Effective lesson planning goes beyond just covering material—it involves setting clear objectives, scaffolding instruction, anticipating student needs, and integrating activities that actively involve learners.
I intend to apply this by designing lessons in my Electrical Technology classroom that are hands-on, student-centered, and aligned with industry standards. For example, when teaching wiring techniques, I will incorporate step-by-step demonstrations, lab activities, and mini-projects that mirror real-world jobsite tasks. I will also use reflection and peer collaboration to help students connect theory with practice.
By planning lessons this way, I can ensure that students not only understand the material but also see its relevance to their future careers, which increases engagement, retention, and skill mastery.
It's important to find the balance between accountability and flexibility. Keeping students engaged in meaningful work, so that they gain the most knowledge from your course.
I learned that empathy can be expressed by sharing something of value to the students. I think this is important because you never know what a child's home life is like. A lot of students have a lot of family responsibilities.
With this module, I have learned that to help student engagement you need to provide a supportive learning environment. Along with this you need to make sure to provide impactful lessons. With these lessons being planned, you need to make to always have your "what" and "why".
From this module I have learned to provide flexibility to the students. Not to focus on deadlines so much but to focus on capability of understanding the content.
I've learned the benefit of engaging students early on rather than simply giving a lecture on the topic at hand. Students are more likely to pay close attention and retain more information with a frame of reference for the discussion such as handling the tools required to accomplish the task. The students will then be better equipped to visualize what's being discussed even in the absence of a visual aid.
